File and Database Compression Components for Delphi 1.0 and 2.5
Copyright (c) 1995, 1996 Peter Hyde
South Pacific Information Services Ltd
Fax: +64-3-384-5138 Email: peter@spis.co.nz
Web: http://www.spis.co.nz/compress.htm
These components are fully functional SHAREWARE.
>>>>> If you ordered the registered version of TCompress, see REGINFO.TXT
You are encouraged to pass them on, upload them to BBS, Web and
ftp sites and generally spread them around as much as you can
-- but please keep all the files together!
If you find TCompress useful, registration will get you the
latest version, a personal ID to eliminate the occasional
reminder message, access to our highly regarded (and, I have
to say it, rarely needed) support AND a nice warm
fuzzy feeling.
Registration details are at the end of this file.
===== PLEASE SEE COMPRESS.HLP FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION =====
1. Key features:
* Support for Delphi 1.0 (16-bit) and Delphi 2.0 (32-bit)
* NATIVE Delphi compression -- no mucking about with DLLs,
VBXes et al
* Multi-file compressed archives using the TCompress component
* Database BLOB (memo, image) compression with TCDBMemo and
TCDBimage
* In-memory compression using streams
(file/memory/blob/resource<-->file/memory/blob)
* Event hooks for customizable user interaction
* Built-in RLE (Run-Length Encoding) and LZH
(Lempel-Ziv-Huffman) compression
* Easy to add your own custom compression routines at any time
* Functions and examples to support compressed resources
and self-extracting EXEs
* Key-based compressed data protection
* Loads of example source included
* Full component source code available
2. Installation:
Quick Start (for people in a hurry):
* Install COMPRESS.DCU and COMPCTRL.DCU into your component
library
* Load the COMPDEMO project, compile and run it (if you are
using Delphi 1.0, see the notes at the top of COMPMAIN.PAS)
* Examine COMPMAIN.PAS for numerous examples of how to use
the compression components
Full Installation Instructions (for careful people):
* 32 bit components are in the main archive, 16 bit DCUs in
COMP16.ZIP
* BACKUP your COMPLIB.DCL file
* Also BACKUP the Delphi's DEMOS\DATA\BIOLIFE.* files, as
this database is used by COMPDEMO to show off blob
compression
* Put COMPRESS.DCU/.DCR and COMPCTRL.DCU/.DCR in a directory
on Delphi's Component Library Search path
* Select Install Components, then click Add and type
COMPRESS. Click Add again and type COMPCTRL. Click OK.
* All being well, a rebuild will take place and a new
Compress tab will appear on your component palette. This
contains the TCompress, TCDBMemo (Compressed Database Memo) and TCDBImage (Compressed Database Image) components.
* Ensure the DBDEMOS alias is pointing to the directory
containing the BIOLIFE database (Delphi installs this, so
it should be fine)
* Load the COMPDEMO project and run it. (if you are
using Delphi 1.0, see the notes at the top of COMPMAIN.PAS)
Note: TCompress and its companions provide very comprehensive
data compression capabilities. Most developers might only need
to drop a TCompress component on their form and call its ExpandFile/CompressFile methods in order to create and work with their own multi-file archives...
Others might drop TCDBMemo/TCDBImage components on as well and simply interact with them to have text and picture data automatically compressed when they are stored in a database.
...and some developers might use the TCBlobfield class to store all kinds of data (sound, numbers, video etc) directly into compressed database blobs (see the BLOB.DPR demonstration for an example of this).
3. Installing Help (for integrated help while running Delphi):
* Put COMPRESS.HLP in Delphi's BIN directory
* Put COMPRESS.KWF file in into Delphi's HELP directory
* Run the HELPINST utility, and select
FILE|OPEN|BIN\DELPHI.HDX.
* Click the + icon and select COMPRESS.KWF.
* Select File|Save to write the updated DELPHI.HDX file,
then exit.
* You should now be able to access TCompress help from within
Delphi, e.g. by pressing F1 while the cursor is in the
Optional airmailed disk (add): $NZ 5 (no charge if emailed)
Payments may be made by Mastercard or Visa (please specify card
number, expiry date, and name of holder). You may also pay by a
bank check in your own currency to the equivalent value at
current exchange rates. We do NOT accept Compuserve SWREG
registrations.
Please print or email the form in COMPRESS.HLP to register
your version.
Contact: SPIS Ltd, PO Box 19-760, Christchurch, New Zealand
Fax: +64-3-384-5138 Email: peter@spis.co.nz
**** Other components you should check out:
TSegCompress by Ken McClain (kmcclain@mindspring.com). TSegCompress builds on TCompress to allow you to create segmented archives (e.g. for saving one archive on several floppies).
See: http://www.mindspring.com/~kmcclain/index.htm to download TSegCompress.
*** For late-breaking information, new versions, new components, tips and tricks,
visit our Web page at
http://www.spis.co.nz/compress.htm
or http://super.sonic.net/ann/delphi/more/tcompres/
